Trusted Southaven Attorneys Explain How Workers’ Compensation Works
Offering high quality legal services to employees in Southaven, Olive branch, Hernando and the surrounding communities
Employees in Mississippi are exposed to hazards and experience injuries in the workplace almost every day. Whether the injury is caused by an accident involving a piece of machinery, a slip and fall, repetitive tasks, or exposure over a long period of time to harmful chemicals, employees who are injured while they are at work performing tasks that are within the scope of their employment may be eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim.
Taylor Jones Taylor has safeguarded the rights of injured workers for more than 50 years. When you run into any kind of dispute in the process of getting your claim approved, settling your claim or any other difficulty, the legal team will protect your rights and make sure that you get all of the compensation that you deserve when you have been injured at work. The firm maintains offices in Southaven, Hernando and Olive Branch so that the lawyers are accessible to injured workers at all time.
Common workplace accidents and injuries
Some workplaces are more hazardous than others. If you are a construction worker, you are far more likely to suffer a serious workplace injury than if you are a receptionist, but any worker in any industry can become injured at work. Here are some examples of common workplace injuries and accidents:
- Falls from height
- Slip and fall
- Being struck by an object
- Getting caught between objects
- Equipment malfunction
- Motor vehicle accident
- Electrical shock
Some of the injuries caused by workplace accidents may include:
- Back injuries for hospital workers
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Hearing and vision loss
- Amputations
- Burns
- Cuts and lacerations
- Broken bones
- Exposure to toxins
- Occupational illness
Important information about workers’ compensation in Mississippi
Workers’ compensation is administered by the state and paid by your employer’s insurer. You may receive partial wage replacement when you must lose time due to an injury, and it also covers your medical expenses related to the workplace injury. What is meant to be a simple, no-fault process can sometimes present some challenges that you were not anticipating. Your employer’s insurer could challenge or deny your claim, or you might need to appeal an unfavorable decision. This is why it is so important to have an experienced Southaven workers’ compensation attorney on your side, helping you through the process of filing a claim or an appeal.
After you have been injured in an accident at work, you must notify your employer immediately, but you have 30 days from the date of the incident to report your injury. If you plan to file a workers’ compensation claim, you must see a doctor that has been approved by your employer and then file your claim. Your employer’s insurer will review your claim and decide if they will approve it. If your claim is not approved, you may want to get your workers’ compensation attorney involved so that you can file an appeal.
Liability for workplace accidents
Regardless of the employer’s role in the accident, you may not file a lawsuit against them when you have been injured at work. However, if the cause of your injury was a piece of defective equipment, a tool that malfunctioned or if you slipped and fell at a remote work site, you may be able to file a third party lawsuit to recover compensation for your injuries. Your workers’ compensation lawyer will make sure that the manufacturer of the defective equipment or the owner of the work site with unsafe premises compensates you fairly when you have been injured due to their negligence.
If you have sustained a serious workplace injury that requires surgery or a hospital stay, or if you are encountering any kind of dispute with either your employer’s insurer or the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, you may want to schedule a consultation with an experienced Southaven workers’ compensation lawyer at the law firm of Taylor Jones Taylor. He or she can safeguard your right to fair compensation for your injuries.
Schedule a consultation with a skilled Southaven workers’ compensation attorney today
A workplace accident can result in serious injury, which keeps you from being able to work and enjoy your life. At Taylor Jones Taylor, the attorneys work hard to make sure that you get all of the compensation you deserve. From offices located in Southaven, Hernando, and Olive Branch, the team serves clients throughout Mississippi. Please call 662.342.1300, or fill out this contact form to schedule a consultation to discuss your case. How can we help you today?